“P-Princess Fii!” exclaimed the Count, causing Lynette to look over as well.
From further down the hallway, the girl from the time at the well was now walking towards them. With the same golden hair as Fiiru-sama, wearing an outdated dress, was this nation’s other princess.
(Ah-, she’s wearing it a little better now.)
The wrinkles in her dress were straightened out this time. For some reason that was what she was thinking about, despite the terror, exhaustion and disgust towards the Count.
With slow steps, Princess Fii approached them.
After stopping a distance away, she looked at Lynette on the ground, and then at Count Jalousie, before asking once more.
“What are you doing?”
The first one to reply was Count Jalousie.
“This girl used violence against me. Look, this is the evidence. Normally after doing such a thing, she would be disqualified as a maid! But I felt that it would be too pitiful, so I thought that I should train her myself a little bit in exchange for my forgiveness, you see. Isn’t that right, Lynette?”
It hadn’t taken long for the Count to come up with an excuse.
And right now, Lynette’s position meant that she could only agree. Even if she went against him, it would still only bring harm to herself. If others found out about the problem, they would become stains that would threaten her position as Fiiru-sama’s maid. Even if it was the Count who was in the wrong, it would surely be her who was censured.
Lynette couldn’t lose this job. She needed it for both her mother, and her family.
Even if Count Jalousie was in the wrong…
“Yes…” she nodded with a hollow expression.
“Well then, please excuse us. Lynette, let’s go.”
The Count moved to leave, and Lynette moved to follow.
“Hmm~ Evidence, huh? Show me.”
But Princess Fii demanded the copper statue instead and held out her hand to Lynette.
In other words, ‘give it to me’. Although Lynette was bewildered, she looked at the Count, and since he didn’t seem to want to stop her, she obeyed.
“See? My blood is all over it.”
After turning it around and examining it at multiple angles, this time Princess Fii spoke to Count Jalousie.
“Count, please show me your wound as well.”
(What is this girl… trying to do…?) Lynette couldn’t help but think.
The moment that she injured the Count, Lynette had already lost all standing. No matter how wrong they might have been, as long as they came from a Count’s house, as the daughter of a Baron, the harm would always be greater for her. Not only that, this time the Count had evidence to use against her.
It was too late for her to do anything.
If she just… If she just endured a little… then the problem would resolve itself.
She would be able to protect this position that her mother cared so much about. So she just wanted to get things over with…
“H-, Hahh…?”
Although the Count was also confused, he squatted down to show Princess Fii.
“Hmm~ So this is the evidence that girl hit you then.”
“Exactly right.”
No sooner had he agreed did Princess Fii raise the statue, and then smash it into his head with all her might.
“GUAHH!”
Apparently it had been quite a serious hit. Blood danced through the air, and the Count grasped at his wound as he sat on the ground.
Lynette simply watched with wide eyes.
After writhing around for a while, the Count stood up and glared at both Princess Fii and Lynette.
“What on earth are you doing! Do you think I’ll let this slide!? Leaving you aside, that Lynette over there will definitely be fired!”
“Oh?”
Princess Fii simply laughed.